Village charm meets urban sophistication in North Perth. Four locals clue us in on their favourite things about living and working there.
EAT
Oscar Boyne is the manager of small bar The Old Laundry.
METRIO & CO | Every second cafe does a smashed avocado, but Metrio's, with
lemon-infused feta and a balsamic reduction, is a bit special. The poached eggs
make it substantial enough for a hangover cure.
SAOWANEE'S PLACE | This is a cheerful little place just down from the busy part of Fitzgerald Street. It's unassuming, but definitely more than just your typical neighbourhood restaurant. The food is some of the best Thai I've had in Perth. Try the red duck curry or the pad see ew.
STONES PIZZA | It's a lot of fun getting pizza from Stones – they always have some weird pizza-of-the-week special, and even the normal pizzas have stacks of interesting ingredients. It's a little pricy, but definitely worth it for the quality of the food – no tinned pineapple here, only fresh.
HOBART DELI | It gets pretty busy, but there's good reason – Hobart Deli always serves up solid brunch options, and the coffee is good, too. You might have to wait a while for a table, but it'll be worth it.
ENGINE ROOM ESPRESSO | These guys get a mention for the brownies they've just started making – delicious, fudgy treats that go perfectly with a coffee (which is excellent, too).
MILKD | It's been around for eons, and is kicking it. Milkd might have the best chilli beans in Perth. Their menu changes every three months but, luckily, those beans have been sticking around.
MAURIZIO RESTAURANT | A good option for date night, this place always serves tasty Italian food, and they've got a good range of Italian wines, too.
NO4 BLAKE STREET | Save yourself for the dego here – sure, the bar food is delicious, but the fine dining takes it to a new level. It's clever, seasonal French food, and it's cheaper than you'd think!
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DO
Jane Coffey owns boutique Future Shelter with her husband, Adam.
OPEN MIC AT THE ROSEMOUNT | There are some really talented young singers playing every Tuesday, and the recent reno makes it a great place to hang out.
COMMUNITY GARDEN | Visit the community garden to see what amazing produce is being grown there, volunteer for a spot of weeding, and have a peek through the windows of the Men's Shed. The men (and women!) are always making local street furniture and fixing up chairs. They also have the most beautiful garden gate.
CRAFT BOUND | Head to the North Perth Town Hall to learn a new craft – there's macramé, knitting, jewellery-making and more.
RELAXING IN HYDE PARK | A perfect place to relax during the summer or winter. The cycle path from the city to North Perth takes you straight through, and it's full of shady trees in the summer months. In the winter, you can take the kids for a walk around the lake to collect leaves.
SWIM AT BEATTY PARK | Brush up on your technique or let the kids learn to swim from an early age at the excellent swim school here. There's also an excellent creche if you fancy an exercise class.
ROSEMOUNT BOWL | The ten-pin bowling here has a great retro vibe – and hot chips – so it's the perfect fun party location for young and old. The retro lighting makes you look like you're a bowling champion.
SHOP
Calvin Hook is the venue manager of the iconic Rosemount Hotel.
ANGOVE STREET COLLECTIVE | This would have to be my favourite shop on Angove Street, with a huge collection of amazing products catering for absolutely everyone. There's no way that you can walk in to this shop and leave empty-handed. They also have a great little cafe on the side.
PEKHO | One of the newer additions to the street, Pekho is the clothing and homewares studio of local designer Buffy Murray. The homewares selection at Pekho is great, and is a go-to for gifts for the family.
COOL CALM COLLECTED | An interior-design store known for its striking mix of reinvented, vintage, antique and contemporary collections. I window-shop here every morning.
FUTURE SHELTER | Located next door to Pekho, Future Shelter pays homage to the talent of our local designers. Husband-and-wife team Adam and Jane design all of their products, and strive to produce amazing-quality, environmentally conscious goods.
BONNIE & CLYDE | My go-to shop for staff presents, or when I am in trouble with my girlfriend. The girls in our office love the range of clothing, and are frequent visitors.
S2 | S2 has some of the best window displays on the street and its layout is ever-changing. A strong collection of local and international women's fashion labels.
DRINK
Ben Borrett is one of the three firemen who own Engine Room Espresso.
THE OLD LAUNDRY | I love this place! Formerly known as Il Circolo, the venue has had a makeover and looks amazing. The staff are super-friendly, there's great service, and it's an awesome place to have a relaxing drink. Don't take your dirty washing though... I'll only make that mistake once.
THE CLASSROOM | This is a really fun place to go. A classroom-themed bar, with all the cocktails grouped into your favourite subjects at school – art, science, and so on. They've got some super-sharp bartenders who will create you a masterpiece. Try the N2 espresso martini – talk about a lesson in science!
THE ROSEMOUNT HOTEL | I like what's happened here recently. The new staff are really switched on and have brought with them some great ideas. The beer garden out the back is the boss.
THAT LITTLE MEXICAN PLACE | This place does some great drinks – there's
imported soft drinks, house-made authentic Mexican flavoured water, and a Mexican coffee brewed with chocolate and cinnamon. It's also BYO!